Price tag holder



Aug. 14, 1951 A. BEALS PRICE TAG HOLDER Filed June 24, 1946 INVENTOR. By ,A/berf Bea/3 W ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,564,517 PRICE-TAG HOLDER Albert Beals, Wichita, Kans.

Application June 24, 1946, Serial No. 678,959

2 Claims.

particularly attaching a price tag to the forward edge of a shelf or the like and has for its principal objects to provide a holder of this character that is adapted for secure attachment to shelves of different thicknesses; to provide a holder wherein the gripping action of the holder on the shelf enhances grip on the price tag to prevent displacement thereof; to provide a holder adapted for securely retaining price tags of different thicknesses; and to provide a price tag holder that is easy to apply.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed out I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a price tag holder constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown as supporting a price tag and applied to a shelf, the shelf being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the holder shown as applied to a shelf with the price tag indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line .3-3 of Fig. 2 illustrating a relatively thin price tag carried by the holder.

Fig. 4 is a similar section but illustrating a relatively thick price tag. I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the holder as viewed from the underside.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the price tag holder.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a price tag holder constructed in accordance with the present invention and which is preferably formed of a light gauge metal, plastic, or similar material having spring-like characteristics. The material forming the holder may be cut in strip form and bent transversely on rounding curves as indicated at 2, 3 and 4 to provide substantially laterally directed upper and lower shelf engaging portions or jaws 5 and 6 connected by a front or web portion 1.

The height of the front or web portion 1 is such as to conform to the thickest shelf on which the device is to be used and the angles formed by the bends 2 and 3 are somewhat less than 90 so that the free ends of the gripping portions 5 and 6 which are opposite from web portion 1 and are substantially closer together for assuring gripping contact on shelves having less thickness than the height of the web or front portion 1 of the clamp. The bend 4 directs a portion 8 of the strip retractively with respect to the lower gripping portion 6 and terminates in front of the front or web portion 1 in a flange 9 that is formed by a transverse bend ID in the strip substantially registering with the bend 3, the bend l0 being of slightly larger radius so as to provide a space II between the flange 9 and outer face of the front portion 1. The upper edge of the flange 9 terminates in an inwardly extending lip l2 directed toward the web portion 1 and which is adapted to clamp the lower portion of a price tag l3 against the web portion 1 when the holder is in use as later described.

In order to enhance resiliency of the flange carrying portion of the holder, it is preferably curved transversely on a substantially large curvature as indicated at [4, the curvature being in a downward direction or away from the gripping portion 6 to avoid interference therewith. This curvature prevents the portion 8 from losing its shape when heavy or relatively thick tags are used in the holder as it allows for widening of the space I I when such tags are used.

The forward edge of the shelf gripping portion 5 is preferably curved upwardly as indicated at I5 so as to prevent scratching of the shelf when the holder is applied.

In using the holder constructed as described, the price tag I3 to be supported thereby is inserted between the lip I2 and the front face of the portion 1 of the holder. This is readily effected by moving the portions 5 and 6 of the holder together before the holder is applied to the shelf l6. This pincher-like movement causes the lip I2 to move away from the portion 1 of the holder so that the tag may be readily moved therebetween to seat on the inner face of the curved portion H]. The arch or curve I4 permits the portion 8 to yield sufficiently so that the flange 9 and lip H! are not bent out of shape when the thick tags are inserted. The arch [4 also provides the resiliency necessary to retain the lip in cooperative clamping relation with the front portion of the holder when a relatively thin tag is inserted as shown in Fig. 3.

After application of the tag, the front edge l5 and rounded bend 4 are pushed apart so that the gripping portions 5 and 6 of the holder will slide over the forward edge of the shelf l6 until the inner face of the front portion 1 contacts the front edge I! of the shelf. When the gripping portions 5 and 6 of the holder are pushed over the respective upper and lower surfaces l8 and IQ of the shelf, the angles of the bends 2 and 3 become greater so as to impart tension 3 in the portions 5, 6 and 1 of the holder. This action of the bend 2 also facilitates in gripping the tag as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 so as to assure against disarrangement thereof. The bend 4 is of sufficient curvature so that it provides considerable flexure of the retractively bent portion 8 of the clamp and tends to maintain contact of the curved portion [0 with the bend 3. The holder is readily removed from the shelf for change oi tags by withdrawing the" gripping;

portions 5" and 6 from the shelf. Upon removal, the old price tag is readily removed and a new one inserted as previously described.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I haves provided a price tag holder that is adapted to shelves of different thicknesses, which isof neat than 90 to impart a spring action in said gripappearance, and which is shaped so asto. posi- I tively grip and retain a price tag carried thereby. It is also obvious that I have provided a-holder shaped so as to retain the; resiliency of the gripping portions thereof even; when' the holder is;

applied to relatively thick shelves or thick price tags are used; I

Vilhatw I-. claim and on which-"I desire to secure LettersgPatent. is: Y

1. A tag holder including -a stripof substantially resilient. material provided with transverse bends toformspaced' gripping portions extending substantiallylaterally from a: connecting web portionzwith: at lea'st oneof said gripping portions forming an angle with: saidlweb portion of lessthan 90 to impart aespring; action in said grip ping portions when the holder is applied toashelfia resilient, tag; clamping portion extending retractively on. a roundingcurve from an" end: of one: of the grippinggportions opposite said web portion-, and: a' lateral. flange extending from.

the retractively extending portion in closely over-- ping portions when the holder is applied to a shelf; a; resilient tag clamping portion extending retractivelyon a rounding curve from an end of one" of thagripping portions opposite said web portion; and; a lateral flange extending from the retractively extending portion in closely overlyin'g relation with the web portion and having a lip projecting toward the web portion for clamping. a: tag. against said webkportion, saidi retractivelyiextending portion having a transverse arohi for promoting: resiliency to enhance clamping: action-z of said fiange'xon: said tag.

ALBERT REFERENGES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

Number Name Date 1 ,327,298 Taylor e Jan-. 6, 1920 153-33 515- Thompson i Mar. 9; 1 920- 1- ,346-,393= Woodhouse' July 13 1920- 1 409;.1G0 Hamer Maln'l, 1922 2,156,872 Roberts May: 2; 1939, 2,332,855:- Jones: i Oct. 26, 1943 

